A new project featuring Scottish heavy metal pirates Alestorm's
Christopher Bowes and Switzerland's Thomas Winkler, with vocal duties
also in Emerald. I raised my eyebrows when I found out about Bowes'
involvement and I must admit that I thought this was going to be Alestorm
2 to some extent, but when I saw that it was labeled at the band's homepage
as Heroic fantasy power metal, I could see what this was coming to.

Sure there are similarities with the mighty pirates, but
this album contains more speedy power metal with extremely catchy choruses,
performed by a man that actually can sing. On second thought, what would
be the point of playing the exact same stuff as you do in your main
band?

This record has more of an Italian metal vibe, with epic
choirs and loud keyboards. I would call it something like catchy, symphonic
and rather epic power metal, because you know we all love to label things
into different sections. This release kind of brings me back something
like twelve or thirteen years and I'm rather surprised that I like it
this much.

Many listeners will presumably dismiss this as a band
following the old proven power metal standards and just give it one
single shot or less. Those listeners' analysis will stand correct, as
this is as groundbreaking as carrying a smartphone nowadays. Yet, there's
something in this music that makes my body move and it leaves the impression
of something happy and it gets you in a good mood.

Not especially powerful and their talents are more concentrated
to pageantry, some occasional speed, harmony leads and a great vocal
performance. This effort could easily attach to the epithet of kid's
metal, meaning this is something younger metal fans will appreciate.
Captivating in a simple way. Songs like Quest For The Hammer Of Glory
and Hail To Crail sticks like glue deep down in your bone marrow.

Medieval influenced power metal isn't totally dead obviously
and even if I don't see an approaching massive revival for this type
of music in the near future, this album, among others, shows that fans
to this genre won't be left starving with albums released over a decade
ago. 7 well deserved chalices to GloryHammer.